Mercerization



July 28, 1953 4 w.-F. LUTHER 2,647,037

MERCERIZATION Filed Jan. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheel 1 s 'I E 7/- l2 33 7o`3/ 69* 25' :8-, V 6a 68 'f7/7 23 66 /lf 26 59' c 7 42 #s u FIG. E

Wiliam F.' Lui/7er At torney 4 3mm/m W. F. LUTHER MERCERIZATION July 28,1953 j 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 Hita/mcg July 28, 1953 w. F.LUTHER 2,647,037

-MERCERIZATION Filed Jan. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il ,vll

5l 5IQ\` l m52 5% mi, ma ,mmc

Attorney Patented .ul'y 28, Q

UNITED y MERCERIZATION William F. Luther, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignorto Dixie Mercerizing Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation ofTennessee Application January 2, 1948, Serial N o. 341

4 Claims.

This invention relates to mercerization of cotton yarns or threads andmore particularly toa process for the continuous mercerization of asingle yarn as it is being advanced.' The invention is of especialutility for mercerizing two ply yarns.

In the usual apparatus and process for mercerizing cotton yarns, a largenumber of yarns, often several hundred in number, are brought togetherin a bundle or rope and this bundle of yarns is advanced through themercerizing bath in order to process them. This is generally referred toas the warp process for the mercerization of cotton yarns. Themercerization of yarns in warp form, however, involves certaindisadvantages, Iand in particular it may be mentioned that the yarns arenot uniformly memorized. This is principally because the yarns at theinterior of the bundle do not receive the same mercerizing treatment asthe yarns at the outside of the bundle, inasmuch as the mercerizingliquid does not come into as free contact with these inner yarns.

In addition, in advancing the yarns in warp form, it is impossible tomake certain that all of the yarns are under the same tension throughoutthe mercerizing process, and this also necessarily brings about avariation in the mercerizing action. Also, in handling two-ply yarns, ithas not been possible to apply as great a tension as has been desired,due to the frail character of these yarns and the necessity of makingcertain that one or more yarns which are under an increased tension arenot stretched beyond their breaking strength.

It has consequently been impossible to so closely control themercerization of the yarns being handled in warp form that a uniformityof treatment results. Because of this the threads have not receiveduniform dyeing properties Iand they have not attained their maximumstrength or luster.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a process formercerizing a single yarn strand in such a manner that uniformmercerization occurs throughout the entire length of the yarn. Becauseof this the yarn has a greater dye uniformity.

Another object of the invention is to obtain the mercerization of yarnunder conditions which can be closely controlled so that variations inthe mercerization of the yarn can be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to mercerize a single yarn strandat high speed so that although it is being handled in single end form,

the process will be economical. Additional economy is achieved due tothe elimination of the creeling, warping, splitting, quilling and otherwinding operations.

A still further object of the invention is to obtain a greater degree ofmercerization and to produce a yarn having a greater luster and also agreater strength due to the ability of applying a greater tensionwithout breakage.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine contemplated by the invention forcarrying out the mercerization of a single end of cotton yarn,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end elevational view as indicated by the line 4 4 ofFigure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5--5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the rear side of the machine, and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the machine as indicated by theline 8 8 of Figure 2.

The framework for the apparatus includes a pair of spaced horizontalmembers I I, herer shown as angle irons. The members II should befastened downwardly to a suitable supporting surface, such as anelevated platform or table top, and this serves to maintain the membersII in their proper spaced relationship. Attached to the horizontalmembers II are upright members I3 and I 4 and as here shown, thesemembers I3 and I4 are of channel construction in crosssection. Theuprights I3 and I4 may be attached to ythe horizontal members II by anysuitable means, such as by welding. To brace the upper ends of theupright members I3 and IB they are connected by a spacing bar I2.

The yarn or thread which is to be mercerized may be supplied from anydesired source and preierably it is provided in a package form fromwhich it may be readily withdrawn. As here shown, the yarn is in theform of a cone, as shown at I5, and this conical package of yarn iscarried upon a horizontally extending larm i3d which is secured -to theupright member I 3. As it is preferable to withdraw the yarn from such a`cone in an axial direction, a pigtail guide I6 3 is disposed axiallyabove the cone I5 and this pigtail guide is attached to an upright rodI'I which is fastened at its lower end as by welding, to the uprightmember I3.

From the pigtail guide I6 the yarn passes forwardly to another' pigtailguide I8 which is attached to a rod I9 which projects laterally from andis secured4 to the upright rod I'I. From the pigtail guide I8 the yarnpasses downwardly through a tension guide 2I and this tension guide iscarried by an arm 22 which is attached, as by welding, to the uprightmember` I3. This tension guide 2|, may `for example, be of the revolvingdisc type. l

After passing through the tension guide 2l, thev yarn progresses to oneend of a yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes the twospaced rollers 23 and 24. The front roller 23 is attached to a shaft 25and this shaft is-rotatably mounted in bearings 26 which are fastened tothe front faces of upright members I3 and I4. The rearward roller 24 isattached to a shaft 2T and this shaft is rotatably mounted. in bearings28 which are fastened to the rear faces of the channeled upright membersI3 and I4. The axes of the rollers 23 and 24 are disposed to lie inparallel planes, but their axes are at an angle, or are askew withrespect to each other. To adjust this latter angularity between the axesof the two rollers, one of the bearings 26 may be provided with anadjustment as indicated at 29,l so that this end of the shaft 25 can beraised or lowered.

Due to the relationship between the axes of rollers 23 and 24, a yarnwhich is delivered to them will be advanced by them in generally helicalturns from the end of the rollers to which the yarn is supplied, to theother end of the rollers. After properly fixing, by means of adjustment29, the angularity between the axes of the rollers 23 and 24, whilemaintaining the axes in their parallel planes, the spacing between thegenerally helical turns can be established. It is desirable that theturns be close together so that a maximum length of yarn will be on therollersy at any time but it is desirable that the spacing between thehelical turns be maintained so that. the turns do not overlap.Inevitably, the maximum length of yarn which can be put on the rollersat any one time without overlap will be a generally helical pattern withadjacent coilsv touching.

As here shown, the rollers 23 and 24 are rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection when the machine is viewed from the right, as appears fromFigures fl and 5. It will be understood that the yarn is withdrawn fromthe spaced rollers 23 and 24 at their ends to which the yarn is beingadvanced, at the same rate that it is beingv supplied to the receivingends of the rollers plus the amount of stretch produced by the taperedrolls, as will be explained. Thus, the yarn is being continuouslyadvanced to the rollers, is being continuously stored in generallyhelical` turns while being advanced along these rollers and is beingcontinuously withdrawn from the rollers so that it may be collected inpackage form. While the yarn is being thus progressed along theyarnstorage, yarn-advancing device it is subjected to a mercerizingsolution, in a manner which will hereinafter be described.

The shafts 25 and 21 may be rotated in unison in any desired manner. Ashere shown, they are connected by means of a chain 3I which passes oversprockets attached to the projecting ends of the two shafts 25 and 21.The shafts may be driven in any desired manner as by means of a cha-in32 passing over another sprocket 33 on the 4 shaft 2, and this chain 32may be driven by any' prime mover.

To apply the mercerizing solution to the yarn as it is being progressedin closely spaced, generally helical turns along the yarn-storage,yarnadvancing device, a padding roller 34 is provided. This roller 34 isattached to a shaft 35 and shaft 35 is rotatably mounted inbearings 36?which are secured to the front sides of upright members I3 and I4. Thepadding roller 34 is rotated by means of a pulley 31 attached to itsshaft 35, and a driving belt 38 passes over this pulley 3l and the shaft25. It is preferable that the pulley 3l be of large. size so that thepadding roller 34 will turn relatively slowly as this will reduce thetendency of thisv roller tofthiow ofi the liquid on its surface.

The underside of the padding roller 34 dips into the mercerizingsolution which is carried in a trough 4 I. rPhe mercerizing solution maybe supplied to the trough 4I by any suitable means as through the supplyconduit 42. A sufficient amount of solution must be maintained in thetrough I so that the constant rotation of the padding roller 34 willcarry some of thissolution upwardly against the yarn being advancedalong the rollers 23 and 24.

It will be observed that the padding roller 34 contacts thev helicalturns of yarn. in their span between the rollers 23 and 24. This ispreferable to having the padding roller 34- contact the yarn at a pointdirectly on either roller 23101` 24 inasmuch as a more certain contactwith the yarn can be established by engaging itatA the yieldable portionof the yarn in its movement between the two roller surfaces. Preferably,the roller 34 contacts the yarn just after it leaves the roller 23 inits movement to roller 24.`

Also, it will be observed that the padding roller 34 is of narrow width.It has been found that this padding roller 34 need be only so wide as tomake certain that the mercerizing solution will be positively applied toand absorbed by every increment of length of the yarn. Ity has beenfoundthat the solution which remains in the yarn will continue themercerizing action upon the yarn after the yarn passes beyond thepadding roller 3G. By making the padding roller 34 of this narrow width,it is easier to wash the solution from. the yarn inasmuch as an excessof the mercerizing solution will not be present by the time thesubsequent washing step is reached. Moreover, there is less loss of thesolution by prevention of the excess being squeezed into. the subsequentwater section.

This washing of the yarn is accomplished by means of a secondroller 43,which is attached to thef saine shaft 35 which carries the paddingroller 34. The washing roller 43 dips into a trough 44' containing washwater and the roller 43 serves tocarry this wash water upwardly intocontact with the yarn. It will be noted that the washing roller G3',like the padding roller 34, contacts the yarnturnsin their passagebetween the surfaces of the two rollers where they a-re out of contactwith these rollers 23V and 26. Also, it will be observed that thewashing roller Sis considerably longer than the padding roller 34 toobtain a prolonged washing action and make certain that a major amountof the mercerizing solution is removed from the yarn.

Fresh wash water is continuously delivered to the trough 44 throughsupply conduit a5, T0 constantly remove the contaminated wash water fromtrough ffii, an overflow pipe 49 is provided.

The troughs il and 44may, for convenience of manufacture; be formed froma single shallow 5. receptacle which is divided by means of a partition45 so as to thereby provide these two troughs. These troughs, or theshallow receptacle from which they are formed, may be held in positionby any desired means and as here shown, this includes a forwardsupporting rod 4l which extends between and is carried by the upper endsof vertical support 48. These supports 48 are attached as by welding tothe horizontal frame members I The forward edge of the receptacleconstituting the troughs 4I and 44 is merely flanged over to form a lipto rest upon the supporting rod 4`|.

The rearward end of each of the troughs 4| and 44, or of the receptacleof which they are made, is supported upon a cross rod 5| and this crossrod passes through aligned openings in horizontal bars 52. Thesehorizontal bars 52 are slightly above the horizontal frame members IIand are attached as by welding at their forward ends to the uprightframe members I3 and I4. The cross rod 5I is preferably provided with abent end as shown at 5| a to form a handle for the cross rod 5I, so thatthe cross rod may be withdrawn by an endwise movement away from thehorizontal bars 52 by which it is carried. This withdrawal of the crossrod 5| upon which the rearward portion of the receptacle constitutingthe troughs 4I and 44 rests, makes it possible to lower this receptaclebelow the applying rollers 34 and 43 s-o that this receptacle canthereby be removed from the front supporting rod 47 and then bewithdrawn from the machine.

The troughs 4| and 42 should be large enough to underlie at least amajor portion of both rollers, and it will be apparent that they may beof the same depth throughout their length. However, it is preferablethat the troughs or the receptacle providing them be of shallow depthexcept beneath the applying rollers 34 and 43 so that a smaller quantityof the mercerizing solution and of the wash'water will be present. Tocarry out this latter purpose, the receptacle from which the troughs 4|and 44 are formed may merely be a pan beneath the rearward roller 24 andthis pan slopes downwardly to the deeper portion beneath the applyingrollers 34 and 43.

Inasmuch as a superior mercerization action is obtained if the yarn isstretched during the mercerizaton reaction and the washing outoperation, the rollers 23 and 24 are of gradually enlarging diameterfrom their yarn receiving ends to their yarn discharging ends. As theyarn turns progress along these tapered rollers, the yarn is subjectedto an increasing degree of stretch and this imparts a greater luster andstrength to the yarn.

It is desirable that a squeeze or wringer roller bear against one of theyarn-advancing rollers 23 or 24 to remove excess solution or water fromthe yarn so that these liquids will not be thrown away from the machine.To effect this result, a squeeze roller 53 is provided and it isrotatably mounted upon a shaft 54. Shaft 54 is rotatable in arms 55which are fixed to and project from a rock shaft 55. The rock shaft 56is rotatable within upright arms 51 which are attached at their lowerends to the horizontal frame members I|. It may be noted that the rearends of the horizontal bars 52 are secured to upright arms 5l forstrengthening purposes.

To press the squeeze roller 53 against the rearward roller 24, a leverarm 58 is attached to the rock shaft 56 and to the free end of the leverarm 58 may be suspended weight 59. It is evident that the downward forceof the weight 59 6 will tend to rock the shaft 55 and forcibly bring thesqueeze roller 53 against the rearward yarnadvancing roller 24. Byvarying the weight 59, the pressure exerted by squeeze roller 53 can beregulated.

The squeeze roller 53 should be as long as the yarn-storage,yarn-advancing device so that all of the yarn turns thereon will besubjected to the wringing action of the squeeze roller. As has beennoted, the applying rollers 34 and 43 preferably are beneath the frontroller 23 so that these applying rollers deliver their respectiveliquids to the yarn immediately after it leaves the front roller in itsmovement toward the rear roller. As the squeeze roller 53 bears againstthe rearward roller 24, the liquids applied by the padding roller 34 andwashing roller 43, have an appreciable amount of time to come intocontact with the yarn to make sure that the yarn is adequately treatedbefore it is subjected to the wringing action of squeeze roller 53.

The mercerizing solution which is pressed from the yarn after havingbeen applied to the yarn by roller 34, drops down into the shallow,rearward part of trough 4| and flows to the deeper part of the trough.As this returned solution is reapplied to the yarn, the mercerizingsolution is conserved.

Inasmuch as the wash water which is squeezed from the rearward roller 24by means of the roller 53 contains some of the mercerizing solution, andit is therefore of value, the invention contemplates the recovery ofthis removed liquid. To accomplish this, a catch pan 6| is locatedbeneath the rear thread-advancing roller 24 in such position that theliquid squeezed out of the f yarn by roller 53 above this catch pan 5|will be collected in the pan. This recovered liquid can be continuouslyremoved from the catch pan 6I by means of a drain conduit 62 and thisrecovered liquid may be reconcentrated for reuse.

The catch pan SI may be supported by merely fastening it in place uponthe bottom of the receptacle providing the troughs 4| and 44. As hereshown, the catch pan 6| extends to the end of roller 24 from which theyarn is delivered and consequently all of the wash water which issqueezed out by roller 53 is recovered. However, the catch pan 6| can beshortened so that only the initially applied wash water is collected, sothat only the stronger solution will drop into the pan 6|. Thus, theconcentration of the diluted caustic liquor which is recovered, may becontrolled by varying the length of the catch pan 6|.

Inasmuch as liquid may accumulate at the point of contact between roller53 and roller 24 and be carried by the yarn to the takeoff end, itmay bedesirable to surround this end with a shield 63. This shield 63 may besupported by attaching it to the arms 55 which rotatably support theshaft 54. From the shield 63, the liquid runs down into trough 44.

After leaving the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes therollers 23 and 24, the yarn passes through a pigtail guide 64. Thisguide 64 is carried by a bracket 65 which is attachedl to one of theupright arms 51. From the guide 64 the yarn passes over a universalwinding cam roller 66 and rests in the groove in this cam roller 68.rIhe cam roller 66 is attached to a shaft 67 and this shaft is rotatablymounted in bearings 68 which are secured to the upright frame members I3and I4. To rotate theshaft 6.1 a pulleyis fastened .thereto and thispulley-is driven by means off'a belt 'lllv which also passes around adriving pulley 1I. The driving pulley 1I is secured to shaft 2;'I.

The collecting spool or tube 'I3 is frictionally mounted upon arotatably mounted arbor 'I4 which is carriedv at one end to a; Swinging,arm l5, and this swinging arm 'l5 is pivotable about a fixed pin 16projecting laterally from the upright frame member I4. It isv preferablethat the collecting spool be in the form of the usual tube havingperforations therethrough so that the yarn which is collected on thisspool may be further washed and soured and otherwise finished by passageof liquid through the opening in the tube and radially through thepackage of yarn. The winding tube or spool may be mounted upon the arbor14 by merely passing it over the free end of this arbor, and the windingtube or spool can then rest downwardly against the surface of thewinding cam roller 65 under the influence of its own weight.

Rotation of the winding cam roller 66 by means of the belt le will, inknown manner, serve to frictionally rotate the winding tube or spool 13so that the yarn delivered thereto will be collected upon this tube orspool. Also, this yarn which is collected upon the spooll or tube 13will be advanced from end to end thereof in building up the package bythe action of the cam groove in roller 66.

Rotation of the rollers 23 and 24 will cause the turns of yarn thereonto advance in regular order, but it has been found that by bringing tobear a tensioning rod upon the yarn in its passage between the rollersthe yarn will advance with the loops in closer proximity withoutentanglement. As here shown, this tensioning rod has a horizontalportion il which bears upon the yarn passing between the top sides ofthe rollers 23 and 24.

To assure passage of the yarn beneath the teng1 sioning rod 1l, itsentrance end maybe upwardly turned at 78. The other end of the rod isturned upwardly as shown at 19 to serve as a hanger or support. attachedto a bracket 80 projecting from upright member I4. The end at 18 oftensioning rod I1 is supported by a vertical rod 8| welded at its lowerend to rod l1, and attached by adjustment collar 82 at its upper end tocross rod I2.

By adjusting this rod 'I'I up or down at either end, the yarn loops arekept from separating or shifting in an unruly manner on the rolls. Thisprevents entanglement or breakdown of the yarn and also allows moreloops to be put on the rollers. The fact that more loops can beaccommodated on the rollers 23 and 24 if the tensioning rod I1Y isemployed, means that the mercerization process is speeded up for a givenlength of rolls. The tensioning rod also serves to remove and lay thefuzz or projecting fibers on the yarn, giving a yarn of smootherappearance and higher luster. It will be realized that the path of thethread between the rollers 23 and 24l is not truly helical due to thefact that the rollers are spaced apart horizontally as can be clearlyseen in Figure 1. Thus, if the angular disposition of the rollers 23 and24 is such as to produce ahelix angle equal to the diameter of thethread, it is still not possible to ciose up the space between adjacentcoils running on the machine. This is due to the fact that the threadwhich defines the helix extends beyond the cylindrical surface of oneroller to get to the other roller which is horizontally spaced from therst. This projection interrupts the formation of a true helix and causessome spacing This vertical portion 'I9 is adjustably g ofthe coils ofthread even when the relative inclination of the rollers has beenreduced to a minimum. On the other hand, the squeeze roller is lesseffective in its operation if therev are spaces between the coils ofthread on which it bears. Thisy is because the roller bears on thethreads and not on the actual surface of the roller 24. The tensioningbar 11 can be used to overcome this difficulty by disposing it at anangle such that the thread coils bearing against the under surface, ofit are caused to progress toward the threadv receiving end of the deviceand so to contact the next adjacent coil in that direction. This resultsin the maintenance of a solid thread body on the device which can anddoes enhance the effectiveness of the squeeze roller 53.

To make certain that the yarn is delivered to the roller 23 at a uniformpoint, a guide arm 83 may have its free end disposed close to thisroller at the point where the yarn initially contacts the roller. Thisguide arm 83 is supported by fastening it to the upright frame memberI3. A similar guide arm 84, attached to upright member I4, is closetothe delivery end of rollers 23 and 24 to prevent the yarn turns fromaccidentally passing off the ends of these rollers.

Although it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will beclear from the foregoing description, a summary of this operation mayhere be set forth. In setting the machine into operation the yarnispartly withdrawn from the cone I5 andr after passing itv through eyes ISand I8 and tension guide 2|, it is passed around the rollers 23 and 24 afew times and the free end is preferably tied to an adjacent turn.Rotation of the rollers 23 and 24 will cause this initial turn toadvance axially along these rollers and in so moving the yarn will' beformed in closely spaced turns throughout the` entire length of therollers.

'When the initial few turns have reached the far end of the rollers 23and 24 the yarn is withdrawn and passed around the collecting spool ortube 73 and this spool is then brought into frictional engagement withvthe winding cam roller. Thereafter, continued driving of themachine Willserve to withdraw the yarn continuously from the supply cone I-5 andadvance it along the yarnstorage, yarn-advancing device, during whichtime. it is. subjected rst to the action of the mercerizing solution andthen to the action of the wash Water, yand thereafter the yarn is co1-lected upon the spool 1,3.

The loops are almost instantaneously wet out by the mercerizing solutionand the contained mercerization penetrant, which is applied by thepadding roller 34 and this wetting isgreatly aided by the pressingaction of the squeeze roller 53. After the loops passv the paddingroller 34, they contain only somewhat more than their weight of themercerizing solution and the mercerizing action continues. until theyarn reaches the water applying roller 43. The rate of washing of theyarnris greatly increased by a well-fitting squeeze roller 53. The wet.yarn leaving the rollers 23 and4 2.4 willl contain approximately equalits weight ofwater and from l to 2% of its weight of the mercerizing.solution. The wet yarn is` collected, upon the perforated spool 13 inwhich form itis finished and dried before being wound onto cones forshipment.

Any suitable mercerizing solution may be used and this may be av causticsolution of about 30 Baume. The mercerizing solution should alsopreferably contain a suitable penetrant or mercerizing assistant, suchas Tergitol 08 and a de- 7-5 foaming agent, such as Octyl alcohol.

One operating form of the machine contemplated by the invention hasyarn-storage, yarnadvancing rollers which are twelve inches long, andare 5.83 inches in diameter at the small end, increasing to 5.98 inchesat the large, or take ofi, end. This gives a pitch of approximately 3%which in turn gives a yarn stretch of 3%. The padding roller 34 is 1/2inch wide and is set in approximately 1A, inch from the threadreceiving` end of the yarn loops to prevent caustic migrating to the endof the rollers and flying off. There is a space of approximately threeand one-half inches left between the caustic padder 34 and the waterapplying roller 43. The yarn may be handled by this machine at a rate of400 yards per minute, or better, which means that the yarn is mercerizedin approximately 60 seconds.

The short period of time in which the yarn is mercerized according tothe process of this invention may be accounted for by the fact that theyarn is repeatedly subjected to the application of the mercerizingliquid and to the wringing action oi the squeeze roller. The repetitionof these successive treatments serves to bring about a more thoroughpenetration of fresh mercerizing soluti-on into the yarn. Thus, thepadder-squeezer roll combination speeds up the process by bringing abouta quicker and more thorough penetration of the fresh mercerizingsolution, followed by quick displacement of the caustic in the washingstep.

What is claimed is:

1. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprisesmoving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through a generallyhelical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween in which thethread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runs between themat a speed above about 400 yards per minute, repeatedly subjectingsucceeding portions of the thread so moving to a cycle of operationsincluding a rubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on anunsupported run in said generally helical path and a squeeze on the nextarc in the direction of movement of the thread.

2. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprisesmoving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through a generallyhelical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween in which thethread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runs between themat a speed above about 400 yards per minute, repeatedly subjectingsucceeding portions of the thread so moving to a cycle of operationsincluding a rubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on anunsupported run in said generally helical path and a squeeze on the nextarc in the direction of movement of the thread and then repeatedlysubjecting succeeding portions of the same thread to a cycle ofoperations including the rubbing application of a washing liquid to anunsupported run, and a squeeze at the next arc.

3. 'I'he method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread thatcomprises moving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through agenerally helical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween inwhich the thread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runsbetween them, rubbing the thread in the unsupported runs opposite to thedirection of progression of the helix to bring about rotary and lateralmovements of the coils and a scrubbing of the thread while repeatedlysubjecting the thread so moving to a cycle of operations including arubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on an unsupported run insaid generally helical path and a squeeze on the next arc in thedirection of movement of the thread.

l4. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprisesmoving a single thread in a generally helical path having arcs and upperand lower generally horizontal connecting runs therebetween, the centersof the arcs being spaced apart more than the sum of their radii, rubbingthe thread in the upper connecting run of its helical path opposite tothe direction or' progression of the helix to impart rotary and lateralmovement to succeeding lengths of the thread and to close adjacent coilsof thread into mutual contact, rubbing a mercerizing liquid ontosucceeding portions of the thread during its passage through lowerconnecting runs of its helical path near the beginning thereof, rubbinga washing liquid onto succeeding portions of the thread during itspassage through lower connecting runs of the remainder of its helicalpath and squeezing the thread between each lower run and the nextsucceeding upper run.

WILLIAM F. LUTHER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l NumberName Date 43,053 Clarke June 6, 1865 242,045 Reilly May 24, 1881 351,946Turnbull Nov. 2, 1886 1,165,896 Palmer Dec. 28, 1915 1,554,532 SteadSept. 22, 1925 1,962,424 Brownell June 12, 1934 2,002,995 Hartmann May28, 1935 2,106,311 Whitehead Jan. 25, 1938 2,108,285 Forrest Feb. 15,1938 2,142,043 Boyd Dec. 27, 1938 2,145,019 Backup Jan. 24, 19392,173,998 Camp Sept. 26, 1939 2,194,684 Gulbrandsen Mar. 19, 19402,219,582 Tarbox Oct. 29, 1940 2,272,182 Burkholder et al. Feb. 10, 19422,294,871 Sellner Sept. 1, 1942 2,294,902 Gram Sept. 8, 1942 2,303,274Herrstrom Nov. 24, 1942 2,308,576 Kornegg Jan. 19, 1943 2,317,747 EwingApr. 27, 1943 2,320,956 Turcotte June 1, 1943 2,346,696 Moritz Apr. 18,1944 2,358,427 Traill Sept. 19, 1944 2,416,534 Naumann Feb. 25, 19472,513,381 Truitt et al. July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date27,871 Great Britain of 1904 101,960 Austria Dec. 10, 1925 300,254Germany Apr. 22, 1913 OTHER REFERENCES Journal of Textile Institute,January 1948 (Proceedings), pages P10 to P20.

4. THE METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY MERCERIZING COTTON THREAD THAT COMPRISESMOVING A SINGLE THREAD IN A GENERALLY HELICAL PATH HAVING ARCS AND UPPERAND LOWER GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CONNECTING RUNS THEREBETWEEN, THE CENTERSOF THE ARCS BEING SPACED APART MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR RADII, RUBBINGTHE THREAD IN THE UPPER CONNECTING RUN OF ITS HELICAL PATH OPPOSITE TOTHE